Case Study: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum revitalizes membership growth with Big Sea

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum aims to double membership with Big Sea

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, a cultural institution dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Chesapeake Bay, faced a challenge with a stagnant membership base that had plateaued at 5,000 members. Despite its compelling story, the museum struggled to translate its strong brand equity into growth and digital engagement due to limited resources and inconsistent messaging. They enlisted the strategic guidance of vendor Big Sea through their Vision service to help achieve their ambitious goal of doubling membership.

Big Sea implemented a research-driven strategy that repositioned membership from a transaction to a personal investment in the Chesapeake's legacy, encapsulated in the new brand platform "Become a Part of the Chesapeake Story." The solution included a complete messaging platform, audience segmentation, an optimized web experience, and comprehensive campaign playbooks. This provided the museum's lean team with the tools for expanded reach, improved conversion potential, and a strengthened brand identity, laying the groundwork to double its membership.

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum